Fourth-seeded Saint Augustine’s College scored seven runs on six hits and a Virginia State error in the eighth inning to topple the top-seeded host Trojans 10-6 in the first game of the CIAA Baseball Championships Thursday. The Falcons will face crosstown rival Shaw, a 12-8 winner over defending champion Elizabeth City State, this morning at 11 a.m. in the winner’s bracket of the four-team double-elimination tournament.

Azor Cloud led the Falcons with two doubles and two RBIs on 3-6 hitting. Godfrey Burnside was 2-for-3 with a double and 1 RBI and Johnathan Guerra was 2-for-4. Clyde Bailey got the win and Justin Vias earned the save. The Falcons beat the Trojans for the third time in five games this season.

Saint Augustine’s 10, Virginia State 6

Saint Augustine’s          001      010      071      -           10        12        2

Virginia State                  040      000      002      -            6          9         3

Bailey, Vias (8) and Whitaker; Shelton, Burton (7), Knight (8) and Jennings.

W-Bailey. Sv-Vias. L-Shelton.

Leading hitters: Saint Augustine’s-Cloud 3-6 (2 2B, 2 RBIs), Burnside 2-3 (2B, 1 RBI), Guerra 2-4; Virginia State-Knight 2-4 (2B, 2 RBI), Wood 2-4 (3B, 1 RBI), Wade 2-3 (3B, 1 RBI).

Records: Saint Augustine’s 9-23; Virginia State 17-11.